BMW i8 finally loses its roof, gains more power for 2018

BMW sharpens up the i8 with more power, bigger battery – and a soft top

What is it? A soft-top convertible version of what BMW says is the world’s best-selling plug-in hybrid sports car.

Why does it matter? I know what you’re thinking: “That really is a small market niche.” And, indeed, BMW has sold only 364 i8 coupes in the U.S. so far this year (BMW doesn’t break out Canadian i8 sales). So, no, there isn’t a plug-in sports car revolution happening.

Nonetheless, the futuristic semi-supercar is fantastic piece of technology, a seamless marriage of a frugal but peppy 1.5-litre turbocharged engine (à la Mini) with the torque-laden, instant throttle response of a 105 kW electric motor – some nine kW more than the original version – that together produce 374 horsepower, up 14 from the original. The battery is bigger, now holding 11.6 kWh and the soft-top roof is pretty quick too, taking only 15 seconds to open and close and adding only 60 kilograms to the i8’s curb weight.

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

David Booth, Driving

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

David Booth, Driving

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

David Booth, Driving

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

David Booth, Driving

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

David Booth, Driving

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

David Booth, Driving

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

David Booth, Driving

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

David Booth, Driving

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

David Booth, Driving

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

David Booth, Driving

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

David Booth, Driving

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

David Booth, Driving

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

David Booth, Driving

2019 BMW i8 Roadster

David Booth, Driving

When will Canada get it? The first half of 2018 is as precise as BMW Canada is willing to get.

Should you buy it? Well, that depends. Do you want the sportiest sports car that $150,000 — probably more, since the i8 Roadster will almost assuredly cost more than the Coupe’s $149,900 — can buy? If you do, there’s a whole bunch better choices. You don’t have to look much further than the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, for instance.

On the other hand, the number of hybrids that can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds and travel 53 kilometres on a single electric charge — albeit measured in the optimistic European NEDC cycle — are far and few between. And few sports cars — electric or traditional — look quite so fetchingly futuristic as the new i8 Roadster, its combination of traditional silhouette and avante garde flourishes absolutely stunning. And, chances are you’ll have the only one in your town.